We are always being asked what do we feed our dogs, how much, how often, how to tell if your dog is underweight, overweight.

There is no real set in stone rule to feeding dogs, every dog is different so the diet may need to be adjusted for individuals within one household, similar to the way humans eat.  One person can eat a entire cake daily and not put on weight, another person has to just think about eating the cake and a couple of kilos are gained! 

We feed a complete BARF (Bones and Raw Food) diet here.  Even when away for shows, our dogs still receive the Raw food, just means another esky full of meat, bones etc for them.

Below is what we feed typically for a week for an Adult Amstaff (approx. 25kg).  The average cost per adult Amstaff at moderate exercise is $11.00 a week.

Day Afternoon
Monday Mince * | Giblets | Offal | Extra* 
Tuesday Frame*****
Wednesday Mince * | Weasand | Offal | Extra* 
Thursday Bones **
Friday Mince * | Giblets | Offal | Extra* 
Saturday Frame*****
Sunday Chunks *** | Weasand | Pork Soft Bones | Extra* | Green Tripe **** 

We source 95% of our dogs food from Canine Country.  I have been using them for approx. 10 yrs.  Some odd items are purchased elsewhere as we find it.

*Mince Varieties

We feed a variety of BARF Minces, Composite Red, Composite White, Duck, Beef, Aussie, Turkey, Lamb and Inner Health over the meals.  

Extra added to our Mince & Chunk Meals - Eggs, Liver (Beef, Lamb, Pork), Offal (Canine Country Goat & Kangaroo Offal mix), Weasand, Giblets, Tuna, Chicken Feet, Sardines, Pork Snout, Duck Wings.  Not all at once but varied over a week.

**Bone Varieties

The type of bones we feed are as follows: Turkey Necks, Lamb Necks, Beef Brisket, Lamb Brisket, Roo Tails, Whole Large Fish, Pork Soft Bones.

***Chunk Varieties

The type of chunks we feed are as follows: Beef, Lamb, Emu, Camel

NOTE: Camel chunks are farmed camels, it is dangerous to feed your dog wild camel.

****Green Tripe

We use the K9 Natural Green Tripe Booster Cans for our dogs meals.

*****Frames

We alternate between chicken frames, duck frames and turkey frames.

Canine Country have a large range of BARF diets, to suit all types of dogs, even a feline BARF which our cats absolutely love.  They have stockists throughout Qld, NSW and VIC. www.caninecountry.com.au 

The main thing you need to remember when feeding is, if you are seeing every rib or backbone on your dog, increase their intake, double the mince, chunks or bones.  If you are unable to see the last rib or a good tuck in the waistline, reduce their meals, half the bone intake, mince, chunks.....  You do not have to balance a dogs meal every day, a balance over a week is fine.

Below are photos of our dogs at various weights, what I consider to be healthy and what I consider to be overweight.

The Good

Staffwild All The Aces ~ 5yr old Amstaff Bitch.  I consider this girl to be at a beautiful weight in this photo.  The rib cage is visible, but you cannot see every individual rib or any backbone, lovely tuck at the waistline.

Suede

Aust Ch. Havfun Bad Habit ~ in this photo he was approx . 3yr old.  Again, no individual ribs showing, however you can see the outline of the ribcage and the tuck in the waistline.

Stitch

The Bad

Staffwild Holierthanthou ~ 7yr old Amstaff Desexed Bitch ~ Overweight, way overweight.  Holly's new owner was being a little too loving, this weight puts undue stress on their joints, heart and overall health, it is a quick way to kill them with kindness.  You can just see Staffwild Mastaofpuppets in the background, he was the same.  These two dogs went from one extreme to another.  The 2nd photo of them below was taken approx. 12mths earlier when I took them back from an their owner who believed they were in good fit weight!

Fat Holly & Zeus

Holly/ Zeus

 

Below are photos of ours dogs at shows and lure coursing, we do prefer to keep our dogs on the leaner fitter side, purely for health and joint reasons.

Aust Ch. Havfun Bad Habit (8yrs old)

   

Aust Ch. Staffwild Lightning Crashes JC (2.5yrs lure coursing)


Staffwild No Remorse JC (7.5yrs at her first lure trial, Indy has been desexed since 4yrs of age)

   

Aust Ch. Staffwild Super Overdrive (2yrs of age, winning Runner Up Best of Breed at the 2015 Ekka under a UK terrier specialist, then winning Best of Breed under the USA Terrier specialist judging the 2015 Ekka Terrier Speciality)

 

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